Outboard propeller mechanism for barges, scows, and the like



Jan. 11, 1949.. A. w. WANZER 58,8 3

. OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BARGES, SCOWS, AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1945 4 8 -\nvenTor.

Arthur W. Wdnger 5 R 0. Mm BL E R EM D W R S m 0 W m5 P, A s E G R NA B U 0 0w 1 4 5 9 l I w H F, d

o e n l a i J F \nvenior Arthur W. Wu qg'er by/d g WQ Jan. 11,1949. A. w. WANZER 2,458,813

' OUTB RD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR B IKE ES, SGOWS, AND THE L 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1945 \5 72 v v 73 7s Arthur W. Wanger AHys:

I A. w. WANZER OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHA Jan. 11, 1949.

i NISM FOR BARGES SCOWS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15, 1945 4 lnvenTor Arthur W. Wanger byfiw ATTys.

Jan. 11, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 13, 1943 a 8 a r m 3 O n f 7 .W PW nw U h v T M l I. V b

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 ZASdtiB OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BARGES, SCOWS,

Arthur W. Wanzer, Quincy,

Murray & Tregurtha, Ina,

AND THE LIKE Mass, assignor to Quincy, Mass, a

corporation of Massachusetts Application February 13, 1943, Serial No. 475,744

10 Claims.

This invention relates to outboard propeller mechanism for barges, scows and similar boats and particularly to mechanism of this type in which the power generator element, the propeller and the driving connections between the power generator and the propeller are built as a unitary structure that can be readily installed on the deck of the barge, scow or other boat.

The type of outboard propeller mechanism herein illustrated is one in which the propeller is mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis so that it can be swung out of the water, and in which the propeller and its driving shaft may be turned about a vertical axis and thus used for steering the boat.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improvements in both the means employed for turning the propeller about its vertical axis and the means employed for swinging the propeller upwardly about its horizontal axis.

Further objects of the invention are to provide improved means for lubricating and protecting the driving connections between the power generator and the propeller and otherwise to improve devices of this type as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the rear end of a barge or scow with my improved propeller mechanism mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on. substantially the line 4B, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing a slightly different construction from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through the propeller housing illustrating the part of the driving connections for the propeller.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side View of the rear end of the base and the upper end of the propeller housing.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8+8, Fig. 3

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-4), Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line |0-lEl, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line li-l i, Fig. 9.

In the drawings l indicates a barge, scow or other boat which is equipped with my improved propeller mechanism. This mechanism includes a power generator indicated at 2 (see Fig. 1) and which may be a gas engine or a power generator of any other type, a propeller 3 and suitable driving connections between the power generator 2 and the propeller The power generator, the propeller and driving connections are all mounted on a base or frame t which is adapted to be installed on the deck of the barge or scow I. Mounted on the supporting base i is a supporting shaft 5 which is located in outboard relation and from which the propeller is suspended.

This shaft 5 is shown as being carried by bushings 6 which in turn are mounted in the side elements 1 of the supporting frame 4 as shown in Fig.4.

The driving connections between the power generator and the propeller include the engine shaft 6a (see Fig. 7) which carries at its rear end a bevel gear in meshing with a bevel gear 8 that is mounted on the supporting shaft 5. This bevel gear 8 has rigid therewith a second bevel gear 9 which meshes with a bevel gear H3 at the upper end of a vertical driving shaft ll, said shaft at its lower end being connected to the propeller shaft it through the bevel gearing l3, M. The vertical shaft H is shown as formed in three sections, an upper section i5, an intermediate section it and a lower section l1, these sections being connected by universal joints Hi.

This vertical shaft H and the gearing i3, it are enclosed in a suitable propeller housing member l9 (see Fig. 6) which is mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis so that the propeller may be used for steering the boat.

This propeller housing member I9 is suspended from a supporting housing that is mounted on the supporting shaft 5, said housing comprising the two cylindrical elements 28, 2! which have a slight telescopic arrangement (see Fig. 4)

The section 28 is a stationary section, while the section 2! is capable of turning about the supporting shaft 5 as an axis. The end of the housing section 29 is constituted by a-segmental gear ll which is rotatively mounted on one of the bushings t, and said housing section is widened at the other end as shown at WI, said widened end being secured to a hanger 8-5 which is rctatively mounted on the other bushing 6. The housing section 2i, therefore, is free to turn about the bushings t.

This housing section 2! is provided on its lower widened end with an extension 22 which is rigid therewith and into which the upper end 23 of the propeller housing l9 extends. The propeller housing is formed with a flange I02 which engages the underside of the housing extension 22, and this flange is formed with a sealing ring I03 to provide a tight or sealed joint between the propeller housing l9 and the housing extension 22. The housing extension 22 is provided with suitable roller bearings v24 in which the upper end 23 of the propeller housing is mounted, such bearings permitting the turning movement of the propeller housing relative to the housing extension 22 about the axis of the shaft Situated within the two-part supporting housing 2E, 2| is a gear housing for the gears la, 8, 9, and iii. This gear housing is also made in two parts and comprises the section 2 through which the engine shaft to extends and which is stationary, and the second section 26 which is capable of turning on the supporting shaft 5 with the outer housing section 2|. This gear housing section 26 is formed tains roller bearings 28 for the upper section of the shaft 1! For turning the propeller housing |9 about the axis of the shaft H in order to steer the boator to reverse its direction, there is provided a worm gear 29 which is fast on .the upper end 23 of the housing l8, said worm gear meshing with a Worm 3t on a horizontal shaft 3| that is mounted in the housing extension 22, This shaft 3| extends beyond its outer end a sprocket wheel 32 which is connected by a sprocket chain 33 with a sprocket wheel 34 that is coaxial with the supporting shaft 5.

This sprocket wheel 34 has rigid therewith a I bevel gear 35 meshing with a bevel gear 36 on the end of .a steering shaft .31 which extendslongitudinally of the base 4 and is operatively connected to a steering wheel 38 located at the front end of the base. tween the shaft 37 and the steering wheel are illustrated in Fig. 8. The steering wheel is carried by a shaft 39 which is provided with a sprocket wheel to that is connected by a sprocket chain 4| with another sprocket wheel 42 on the front end of the shaft 3?. This steering Wheel 38 and its shaft 39 are journaled at the upper end of an upstanding housing 43 which rises from the front end of the base 4. The shaft 31 extends into this housing and the end of the shaft is supported in a bearing 63. The sprocket chain 4| and the sprocket wheels 4t and 42 are thus enclosed in this housing. A casing or cover 84 is provided for enclosing the sprocket chain 33 and the sprocket wheels 32, 34.

The above construction provides'means whereby a person standing at the wheel 38 can turn the propeller housing is about its vertical axis thereby using the propeller to steer the boat or scow. In order to reverse the direction of movement of the boat or scow, all that is necessary is to turn the propeller housing l9 through 180 degrees to bring the propeller into the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 1.

I have stated above that the propeller is mounted' so that it can be swung upwardly to raise it out of the water.

As stated above, the propeller housing I9 is supported from the housing extension 22 which in turn is rigid with the housing section 2! (see Fig. 4). This housing section 2| is mounted for turning movement about the bushings 8 and hence about the supporting shaft 5 as an axis, and by turning the housing section 2| about its axis, the propeller and propeller housing may be swung with an extension 2! which consaid housing extension and carries. .at

The driving connections befrom the full line operative position in Fig. 1 to the elevated inoperative position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1.

The driving connections between the steering wheel 38 and the worm gear 29 are such that they are in no wise affected by any turning movement of the housing section 2| about the horizontal shaft 5, this result being secured by the coaxial relation between the sprocket wheel 34 and the supporting shaft 5. When the propeller housing I9 is swung upwardly about said shaft 5, the shaft 3| and sprocket chain drive 33 swing or move with the propeller housing because of the coaxial relation between the sprocket wheel 3'4 and the shaft 5. Such swinging movement does not aifect in any Way the driving connections between the steering wheel and the worm gear 29.

'In the construction shown in Fig. 4, this sprocket wheel 34 and gear 35 which is mounted on the 'supporting shaf-t 5.

My present improvements involve novel means for swinging the propeller housing about the supporting shaft 5. The housing section 2| has rigid therewith asegmental gear 41 which is rota-tively mounted on one of the bushings 8 and which meshes with a pinion 48 mounted on a shaft 49 that extends transversely of the supporting base 4.

This shaft 49 has at its opposite end a worm gear 50 which meshes with a worm 5| on a-shaft 52 extending longitudinally of the base 4 (see Fig. '7). This shaft 52 is connected to a manually operated shaft '53 (see Figs. 9 and .10) that is carried by the housing -43 and which is providedwith a crank handle 44 on the exterior of the housing by which it may be turned. The driving connections herein shown between the manually operated shaft 53 and the shaft 52 co1nprise a sprocket wheel 54 on the shaft 53 connected by a sprocket chain 55' to a larger sprocket 5%: on a countershaft 51. This shaft El carries a sprocket wheel 58 connected by a sprocket chain 59 with a sprocket wheel 66 on a second counterare rigid with a sleeve 45 a reduced extension 46 of shaft 5|, and this shaft 5| is connected to the shaft 52 by a sprocket chain 52 which passes around sprocket wheels 56 and 6'4 on the shafts 6| and 52 respectively.

The operative connections above described between the crank handle 44 and the gear 4'! provides a speed-reducing power increasing driving connection Which enables an operator to readily swing the propeller housing and the propeller upwardly about the shaft 5 as an axis notwithstanding the considerable weight of said propeller and housing.

Furthermore, the worm iii and worm gear 5|] by which the shaft 48 is rotated serve as a lock to hold the propeller housing in any adjusted position. Ihave, however, provided an additional lock for this purpose in the form of a brake drum 89 fast on the shaft 49 and a brake band 98 encircling-said drum and which can be clamped thereto by a brake handle 88 (see Fig. 7). This brake handle is pivoted to'one end of the brake band 96 as shown at 9|, and a link 93 is pivotedat one end to, the other end of the brake band as shown at 82 and to the handle as shown at 94. The brake band 90 is shown in Fig. '7 as being set on to the brake drum, but by raising the brake handle 88, the gripping action of the brake band on the brake drum will be loosened thus permitting the shaft 49-to be freely turned.

Another feature of the invention relates to a novel way, of maintaining. the gearing and bearings of the various shafts of the driving connections properly lubricated.

Situated in the chamber 61 of the propeller housing I9 is an oil pump 68 which is actuated from a gear 69 carried by the propeller shaft (see Fig. 6). The discharge from this pump is connected by a pipe 10 to the lower end of a passage H with which the wall of the propeller housing is provided, said passage at its upper end opening into an annular oil-containing chamber 12. This oil chamber 12 is formed in a fitting 13 which is rigid with the casing extension 22 (see Fig. 4) and is shown as connected to the gear housing extension 21 by bolts 95. 96 is a sleeve which is clamped between the housing extension 21 and the fitting 73 by the bolts 95 and through which the shaft section l5 extends. The upper end 23 of the propeller housing is provided with a head 14 having an upstanding annular flange 15 which is partially received in the fitting 13. 16 indicate packing rings that are interposed between the upstanding fiange l5 and the walls of the chamber 13 thus making a tight joint. This construction provides a swivel connection between the upper end of the housing 23 and the fitting 13 which allows the housing to turn about the axis of the shaft l l.

The oil chamber 12 has a pipe 11 leading upwardly therefrom, the end of which extends through the gear housing section 26 as shown at 18.

It will be understood that the chamber 5'! will be filled with oil or suitable lubricant. The pump 68 takes this oil and forces it through the pipe 10 and passage H into the annular oil chamber 12 from which it flows upwardly through the pipe 17 into the interior of the gear housing 25, 26. The oil then flows downwardly through the bearings 28 and through the propeller housing [9 bac into the sump 61. I

During this circulation of the oil, all the gears and the bearings are properly lubricated. The swivel connection between the upper end of the housing section and the fitting l3 permits the housing section to be turned about the axis of the shaft I I without in any way interfering with the circulation of the oil.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a slightly different embodiment of the invention wherein the sprocket wheel 34 and bevel gear 35a are mounted on a shaft separate from the supporting shaft 5 but in axial alinement therewith. In this embodiment,

There is also provided herein an indicator which is situated adjacent the steering wheel and which indicates the extent to which the propeller housing has been turned about its vertical axis thus assisting the operator in steering the boat,

The shaft 39 of the steering wheel has .rigid such indicator being illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and

therewith a spiral gear 8! which meshes with a companion gear 82 on the lower end of a vertical some suitable pointer or indicator arrangement which the party operating the steering wheel 38 can easily observe.

Any turning of the steering wheel in either direction will thus operate to shift the position of the pointer and by employing a properly graduated dial, the operator can observe from the indicator just what the angular position of the propeller housing is at any time.

86 indicates guard wings which are attached to the propeller housing and which serve to guard or protect the propeller (see Fig. 1).

In the construction shown, the gear housing 25, 26 is carried by the two bushings ii. The stationary section 25 of the gear housing has a sleeve-like hub 98 in which is received the inner end of one of the bushings 6, and the other gear housing section 26 has the sleeve-like hub 99 in which is received a second sleeve lllfl carried by the other bushing 6.

The housing members 25, it are provided with roller bearings 97 (see Fig. 4) for the double gear 8, 9, said gear. therefore, being directly supported by the gear housing which in turn is supported on the supporting shaft 5.

By mounting the base 2 on the boat so that the rear end is raised slightly, the resulting position of the propeller will tend to depress the stern of the boat slightly and to raise the bow thereof, thereby enabling the speed of the boat to be increased.

I claim:

1. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a supporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a housing member mounted on said shaft to turn thereabout, a pro peller housing carried by said housing member, a propeller carried by said propeller housing, means to operate the propeller, a gear rigid with said housing member, a shaft extending transversely of the base, a pinion on said shaft meshing with said gear, a shaft extending longitudinally of the base, a worm and worm gear connection between said transversely extending shaft and longitudinally extending shaft, means at the front end of the base to rotate said longitudinally extending shaft and thus swing the propeller housing and propeller upwardly about the supporting shaft, and a manually operated brake for locking the transversely extending shaft from rotation.

2. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a supporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a housin member mounted on said shaft to turn thereabout, a propeller housing carried by said housing member, a propeller carried by said propeller housing, means to operate the propeller, a gear rigid with said housing member, a shaft extending transversely of the base, a pinion on said shaft meshing with said gear, a shaft extending longitudinally of the base, a worm and worm gear con-- nection between said transversely extending shaft and longitudinally extending shaft, means at the front end of the base to rotate said longitudinally extending shaft and thus swing the propeller housing and propeller upwardly about the supporting shaft, and a manually operated brake forlocking the transversely extending shaft from rotation, said brake comprising a brake drum on said transversely extending shaft and a manually controlled brake band encircling said drum.

3. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a supporting shaft carried by said anaemia base in *outboard relation, a housing member mounted on said shaft to turn thereabout, a :propeller housing carried by said housing member, a propeller carried by said' propeller housing, means to operate the propellenmeans operative from the front end of the base to turn the housing mem her about the supporting. shaft and thus swing the propeller upwardly, said propeller housing being turnable about :an. axis at right angles to the supporting shaft for steering the boat, a steering Wheel carried by said base at the front end thereof and connections between said steer" ing wheel and said propeller housing by which turning movement of the steering wheel turns the housing about its axis, said connections being operative in any position which the propeller housing assumes as it turns about the supporting shaft.

4. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a supporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a housing member mounted on said shaft to turn thereabout, a propeller housing carried by sa idhousing member, a

propeller carried by said propeller housing, means to operate the propeller, means operative from the front end of the base to turn the housing member about the supporting shaft and thus swing the propeller upwardly, said propeller housing being turnable about an axis at right an les to the supporting shaft for steering the boat, a steering wheel carried by said base at the front end thereof and connections between said steerin wheel and said propeller housing by which turning movement of the steering wheel turns the housing about its axis, said connections including a gear coaxial with the supporting shaft, whereby said connections are operative in all positions which the propeller housing assumes as it swings about the supporting shaft.

5. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a supporting base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a horizontal supporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a propeller housing, a propeller carried by said housing, means supporting the propeller housing from said shaft to permit it to swing bodily about said shaft to raise the propeller and when in vertical position to turn about a vertical aXis for steering the boat, means to operate the propeller, a steering shaft extending longitudinally of the base, a countershaft extending transversely of the base and having a worm and gear connection with the propeller housing, driving connections between said steering shaft and said countershaft including a gear coaxial with the supporting shaft, a steering wheel at the front end of the base and driving connections between said steering wheel and said steering shaft.

6. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of the boat, a supporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a gear housing mounted on said supporting shaft, a propeller housing, means for suspending the propeller housing from said shaft, a propeller carried by the propeller housing, means for driving the propeller including a driving shaft extending axially of the propeller housing and transmission gearing on said supporting shaft enclosed in the gear housing, said propeller housing being turnable about a vertical axisfor steering the boat and having an oil sump in its lower end and an oil passage in its wall which communicates at its lower end with said sump, means providing an annular oil chamber at the upper end of the propeller housing with "Wl'llChWlhe oil passage communicates, a pipe connection between said annular oil. chamber and thex-ggar housing, and means for circulating oil from the sump through said'oil passage a'n'dzannular oil chamber into the gear housing.

7.'An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprisin'gxabase adapted to be mountedon the deck of the boat, arsupporting shaft carried by said base in outboard relation, a housing member mounted on said shaft, a propeller housing carried by said housingxmember and adapted for turning movement about an axis perpendicular to that of the supportin shaft, a propeller carried by said propeller housing, means for driving the propeller including adrivin shaft extending axially of the propeller housing and transmission gearing "mounted on said supporting shaft, '2. gear housing carried by=said shaft enclosing said transmission gearing, said propeller housing havin an oil sump in its lower end and an oil passage in its wall which communicates with said sump, means providing an annular oil chamber at the upper-end ofthe propeller housing with which said oil passage communicates, a pipe connection between said annular oil chamber and the gear housing, and means for circulating 'oil from the sump through said oil passage and annular oil chamber into the gear housing.

8. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of a boat, a two-part supporting housing carried by said base in outboard relation, one part of said housing being 'stationarily mounted on the base and the other part being mounted to turn about a horizontal axispa propeller housing depending fromthe turnable part of the supporting housing, a'propeller carried by said propeller housing, a gear housing located within the supporting housing, means tooperate the propeller including transmission gears within said gear housing, and means operative from the front end of the base to turn the turnable portion of the supporting housing about its horizontal axis and thus swing the propeller housing and propeller upwardly.

.9. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprisinga base adapted to be mounted on the deck of the boat, a two-part supporting housing carried by said base in outboard relation, one part of said housing being stationaril mounted on the base and the other part being mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a propeller housing depending from the turnable part of the supporting housing, a propeller carried by said propeller housing, a gear housing located within the supporting housing, means to operate the pro-- peller including transmission gears within said gear housing,the latter having bearings in which the transmission gears are rotatively supported, and means operative from the front end of the base to turn the turnable portion of the supporting housing about its horizontal axis and thus swing the propeller housing and propeller upwardly.

10. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of the boat, a two-part supporting housing carried by said base in outboard relation, one part of said housing being stationarily mounted on the base and the other part being mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a propeller housing depending from the turnable part of the supporting housing, a propeller carried by said propeller housing, a gear housing located within the supporting housing and also comprising two parts, one of which is stationary and the other of which is turnable about said horizontal axis with the turnable part of the supporting housing, and means operative from the front end of the base to turn the turnable portion of the two housings about said horizontal axis and thus swing the propeller housing and propeller upwardly.

ARTHUR W. WANZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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